海角大神

President Joe Biden spoke softly, but his words carried enormous weight as he declared that 鈥渢he best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation鈥� and delved into his decision to drop his reelection bid.

In a televised address Wednesday night, the president framed his choice in almost existential terms. The defense of democracy, Mr. Biden said, 鈥渋s more important than any title.鈥澛�

He did not utter former President Donald Trump鈥檚 name, but the implied warning was clear: that, in Mr. Biden鈥檚 view, electing his predecessor to another term could imperil American democracy.聽

The Oval Office 鈥� where this reporter had the privilege of witnessing history as the only print journalist present 鈥� was packed.聽Much of the space was consumed by the equipment and crew broadcasting Mr. Biden鈥檚 speech and running the teleprompter. Biden aides squeezed in. Seated along the wall were his wife, children, grandchildren, and spouses. The only non-family member accorded that honor was decadeslong adviser Mike Donilon. The 鈥渞estricted press pool鈥� included a print reporter, a still photographer, and a network TV crew.

It was like being on a TV set. But the import could not have been more real. The last time an American president opted not to run for a second term was in 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced his decision from the same room, as聽the nation was聽embroiled in war abroad.聽聽

Mr. Biden spoke faintly, haltingly, solemnly. The speech was laced with pride and a sense of what might have been, had he felt able to continue his campaign. He highlighted what he sees as the main accomplishments of his presidency, a reprise of his campaign pitch.聽

In a preview of many more 鈥渇arewell鈥� moments to come, Mr. Biden cited the nation鈥檚 postpandemic economic recovery, and bringing manufacturing back to the United States, reducing illegal border crossings (after they surged in his term), battling climate change, and appointing diverse leadership in his administration. Winning the 2020 election was itself a major triumph, in Mr. Biden鈥檚 eyes. And preventing his predecessor from retaking the White House remains his overarching goal.

鈥淚 ran for president four years ago because I believed, and still do, that the soul of America was at stake,鈥� the president said. 鈥淎merica is an idea, an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant.鈥�

Now Mr. Biden is making the case to elect his vice president, Kamala Harris,聽who almost certainly will carry the Democratic torch to November, amid聽a remarkably fast transformation聽of the Biden campaign into the Harris campaign.聽

鈥淚 would like to thank our great Vice President Kamala Harris,鈥� the president said toward the end of his remarks. 鈥淪he鈥檚 experienced. She鈥檚 tough. She鈥檚 capable.鈥�

Mr. Biden didn鈥檛 say, 鈥淰ote for Vice President Harris,鈥� reflecting his apparent desire to maintain a bit of separation between official duties and politics. On Sunday, when he released the letter announcing his decision to step aside from his reelection campaign, he did not endorse Ms. Harris as his replacement for the Democratic nomination. That came a half hour later in a social media post.聽

But Wednesday鈥檚 speech was聽not devoid of politics. Mr. Biden has spent more than 50 years in the highest levels of elective office, and it infuses his being. He clearly relishes the game. And now, as much as he wanted to defeat Mr. Trump again, he decided to put 鈥減ersonal ambition鈥� aside, as he put it. His badly faltering debate performance last month against Mr. Trump eventually left little choice but to聽leave the race, under pressure from his own party.

Speaking at her regular briefing Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Mr. Biden鈥檚 exit 鈥渉as nothing to do with his health.鈥澛�

But, his recent bout with COVID-19 aside, the president鈥檚 increasing frailty in recent months has become impossible for even his most loyal allies to avoid. His childhood stutter, which he noted in his address, has been evident more frequently. Mr. Biden faces calls from some Republicans to resign the presidency itself, but his aides scoff at the idea, asserting that he has the acuity and stamina necessary to finish his term.

Mr. Biden finished his remarks with a call for national unity 鈥� and a final implied warning of what a second Trump term might bring.聽

鈥淟et鈥檚 act together, preserve our democracy,鈥� he said.聽

The broadcast over, aides and family burst into applause. First lady Jill Biden walked over to the Resolute Desk and stood beside her husband. Moments before, daughter Ashley seemed close to tears as she reached for her mother鈥檚 hand.聽

Mr. Biden addressed the room. 鈥淭his has been the honor of a lifetime,鈥� he said, followed by other words of gratitude.聽

As this reporter was exiting the Oval Office, per the staff鈥檚 instruction, more applause could be heard 鈥� both from inside the presidential suite and outside in the Rose Garden. Staff had been attending a watch party there and eating ice cream, the boss鈥檚 favorite treat.